Snowfall (20 page)

Questions for Discussion

1. Did you have a favorite character in
Snowfall?
I have to admit that I was very fond of Ruth, mainly because she was so competent! That is not like me at all. I would have been much more like Lovina when faced with the possibility of babysitting six children! Who do you know that could have handled such a job with ease? Why?

2. I have a feeling that a lot of us grow up hearing that it is better to give than to receive. Is that true with you? What do you especially enjoy giving? Your time, your talents, the perfect gift?

3. I loved the idea of making Ruth once again a visitor in a home at Christmas. Why do you think she finally felt like she was a part of the family? Was it her love for Martin or something else?

4. It was important for me to let readers who were familiar with my book
Eventide
see how Elsie is doing. What did you think about her desire to be in charge of the dinner? Why do you think she felt the need to take this on in the first place?

5. I really thought Lovina needed Annie in her life. Where do you see their relationship heading?

6. So, do you have a chicken pox story of your own? What do you or your children remember most about this illness?

7. What did you think about Martin? Did you think Ruth was a good match for him? Why or why not?

8. I must admit that I wrote most of this novella during the coldest, snowiest winter I could ever remember! It was sometimes hard to make my characters yearn for snow! Have you ever experienced a white Christmas? What are some of your family's favorite winter traditions?

Keep reading for a sneak peek from the first book in Shelley's upcoming Amish Brides of Pinecraft series!

A PROMISE AT PALM GROVE

The story of a bride-to-be torn between the man she's agreed to wed
—
and the man her heart desires.

Coming Spring 2015 from Avon Inspire.

“C
OME ON, GIRLS
.”

Mattie froze. “Why?”

“To see the boys, of course.”

Leona shook her head. “Sara, we can't simply go search for those boys.”

“You can't. You're engaged. But I can,” she called over her shoulder. “Come on.” And with that, she darted down Burky Street and turned left on Beneva Road.

After exchanging a pained look with Mattie, Leona hustled down the sidewalk after Sara. There was no way she was going to let Sara get in trouble on her own.

After practically running down the block, Sara came to a sudden stop at the front yard of the Palm Grove Mennonite Church.

“Now what's wrong?” Mattie griped before she, too, seemed transfixed by the sight before her.

Feeling like the lazy part of the Three Musketeers, Leona hurried over to catch up, then found herself staring at the sight, too.

And then she had to remind herself not to stare quite so blatantly.

But what a sight it was!

“What are they doing?”

“It looks like there's something in the tree.”

Two men about their age had surrounded a tree and had their chins lifted, and were staring at something nestled in the branches. Leona followed their gazes, then stifled a gasp.

A third man was more or less reclining on one of the branches like he was seven years old again. One leg was swinging, his blue shirt was untucked, and his straw hat had floated down to the base of the tree. And he was grinning like he was having the best time in the world.

Leona swallowed.

Yes, it was obvious that they were having a good time. Every minute or two they laughed and egged each other on and made jokes about bees.

Bees!

Especially the man in the tree, who she just happened to notice had sandy-brown hair, very tan arms, and a dimple.

She knew he had a dimple because from the moment she'd spied him he'd been either laughing, teasing his buddies, or grinning.

He lit up the scene. And, she had a feeling, most likely lit up wherever he was all the time. Unable to take her eyes off him, she realized he was the type of man she used to dream about when she went to sleep at night.

He looked confident and happy. Comfortable with himself and with everyone else, too.

Just then, that man glanced in her direction. Within seconds his gaze became intent. Far more serious.

And though it was truly a fanciful thought, Sara imagined that she could actually feel his gaze. And that he was thinking the same thing she was—that for the first time in forever, he was seeing something important.

That look was compelling and scary and intense. Enough to take her breath away. Instinctively, she took a step back. “We should go.”

“No way,” Sara said. And then did the exact opposite. She walked a little bit closer. “I want to see what they're doing.”

“But it's none of our business.”

“We won't get in the way, Leona,” Mattie said. “Don't be so timid. I mean, weren't you saying on the bus that you wanted to meet new people?”

She had said that. But she hadn't been talking about handsome men. She'd been thinking more along the lines of girls their own age. “Yes, but—”

“But nothing,” Sara whispered. “They're cute and they look nice. And they're Amish, so even my
mamm
wouldn't get mad.”

At that Leona felt her lips twitch. Sara's mother constantly warned Sara about talking to Englischers, especially young, handsome Englischers. “Fine.”

“Hey!” one of the guys called out.

“Hey, yourself,” Sara said, flirting right back.

“Did you need something?”

“
Nee.
We were just wondering what caught your attention. What's in the tree?”

“A cat. A mighty determined, mighty skittish
kats
.”

Mattie laughed. “I guess it takes three Amish men to rescue a cat in Pinecraft?”

The man's smile grew wider. “Obviously, and we're still having a time of it. Perhaps you three ought to come over here and give us a hand.”

Before any of the girls could comment on that, there was a rustle of leaves followed by a lazy, loud
meow.
Then, next thing they knew, a sleek gray cat with white paws gracefully leaped from the tree like it was the headline attraction in a carnival show.

“She's out! Catch her!” the man in the tree called as he started his descent.

The blond who had been flirting with Sara reached for the cat, missed, and stumbled as he attempted to regain his balance and run after the wayward cat at the same time.

In response, the cat meowed, lifted her chin, then darted toward the girls.

“Oh!” Sara said. “She's pretty.”

“She is mighty pretty,” Leona agreed as the cat pranced to her legs, circled around her ankles, then looked up at Leona with her gray-blue eyes and meowed.

Before she thought about it, Leona bent down and picked it up.

“
Meow
,” the cat uttered again before snuggling close, purring her contentment. Hugging it close to her, Leona gazed helplessly at her cousins and at the three men who had now all turned to her with looks of wonder.

And then the man from the tree branches stepped forward and grinned. “Perhaps it doesn't take three Amish men at all. Just one pretty blond girl.”

Leona knew he was teasing.

She knew he was being a mite too forward.

She knew she was engaged and shouldn't encourage any familiarity.

But for some reason, all she could do was stare at him, cuddle the cat.

And smile right back.

Everything happens for a reason. We know that now.

Thomas, Age 8

Night had come, and with it the six Rhodes children at last fell into an exhausted slumber. Ruth was only surprised they'd stayed awake so long.

It had been an eventful day, for sure and for certain. After Martin had opened the door and the children had run out into the yard like they'd been prisoners getting an hour's reprieve, the eight of them built snowmen and made snow angels and threw snowballs and generally wore themselves out.

To be honest, there was a part of Ruth that worried the whole time about letting such sick
kinner
do so much. But she'd also lived long enough to recognize the importance of grasping everything good when it was possible.

After almost a full hour, the eight of them had trudged back in, the children had changed into fresh pajamas, and she had served them all a breakfast of blueberry French toast, crisp bacon, and mugs and mugs of creamy hot chocolate.

And by this time, for sure . . . the children had been thinking about presents.

She'd given each of them her gift—slippers and stuffed animals that she'd bought over a week ago. She'd also presented each of them with a mason jar with their name carefully painted on the side. At the top of each jar, she'd used one of Martin's tools and made a small opening, big enough for a quarter. And inside each, she'd put in four quarters.

Martin gave them some trains and a plastic farm-animal set, as well as each of them a book and a new pair of cozy pajamas. And then, with a very big smile, he led a bundled-up Meg to the barn and returned fifteen minutes later with a very happy Meg and one mewing calico kitten.

The kids gave him their pictures and cards.

And for the first time, Ruth didn't care that she was merely a visitor in another family's home. Because she felt like she was a part of them. She felt their love for one another, and their love for her.

And even more, she realized that she and Martin did have a future together. He cared about her, just as she cared about him. Here, in this house full of noise and laughter and tears and hugs, she'd found love. She knew that one day she would be the children's new mother and Martin's wife.

But then, to her great surprise, she found herself surrounded by all six
kinner
, each holding a card just for her. And Martin, holding a beautifully wrapped box.

“I didn't expect this.”

Martin smiled. “That's why giving you things is so much fun, Ruth.”

Each card was adorable. Meg drew a heart, the twins drew pictures of everyone together, each child looking like a spotted Dalmatian.

Gregory had divided his picture into fourths and had drawn four different pictures of Frank. Thomas had drawn a simple Christmas tree. And Katrina? She had drawn a picture of a sleigh in the snow with lots of presents inside and a lady, too—Ruth.

Ruth hugged the pictures to her chest. “These are the best gifts I've ever gotten,” she said, trying her best to hold off tears.

“Here's one more,” Martin said quietly. “I didn't make it, but I hope you will like it, too.”

To her embarrassment, her hands shook as she carefully unwrapped the gift, then opened the lid.

But then, she couldn't do anything but gasp as she pulled out the most remarkable snow globe she'd ever seen.

“Do you like it?” he whispered.

“It's
wunderbaar
. Absolutely wonderful,” she said around a gasp. “It's perfect.”

His face relaxed into a smile. “I was going to give it to you as a reminder that snow always does come. Maybe not when we hope for it, maybe it takes too long. But always here, when the snow does fall, it's the perfect time.”

“Just like today,” Katrina said.

“
Jah
,” Ruth said as she gazed at the children and then looked up at Martin. “It does come at the right time. And when it does, it's clean and fresh and good. Just like today.”

“You mean, just like today, Christmas Day,” Brigit corrected.

Ruth leaned back and laughed. “
Jah
, dear. Just like today. Today, our wonderful, so, so special Christmas Day.”